Welcome to an 'inch of difference'.
"This inch in which we live." Richard Neville, Oz, 1971.

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

This is for anyone who still believes that the British people will have an in/out referendum on the EU or that this government is broadly eurosceptic.

"Not, as William said, because we want British nationals in Brussels simply to push the United Kingdom's own view. Every civil servant employed by the EU is expected to work loyally and independently for the EU and that is how it should be and I wouldnt expect any British citizen working there to be any more partisan than a European official coming from any other European member state."

The Communicating EU Careers to Students event took place at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Monday 18 October 2010. The event brought together representatives from universities across the UK, and provided a forum for discussion around the subject of how to encourage more British graduates to consider careers in the European Union Institutions.

The British Government is committed to increasing the number of British nationals working in the EU Institutions. The FCO is working with other government departments to try and encourage more young British graduates to consider the EU as a career option.

There really is no excuse for people continuing to believe this government's EU spin.

DfID Secretary involved in dubious dealings
"After receiving £40,000... The minister telephoned the British high commissioner in Ghana on the issue, according to internal government documents cited by the Sunday Times, despite the fact it involved British business interests overseas, which is outside Mitchell's remit. Officials in Mitchell's office also contacted the Foreign Office to say that the matter required "urgent attention".Yemen, the new Afghanistan
"One of the significant issues we're seeing is the number of foreign fighters going to Yemen. The German authorities are very worried. At least 70 Germans are thought to be in training camps, with about 200 travelling there in the last two years." Whitehall sources say about 30 Britons are believed to be training there. C of E in fake marriage scam
The leap followed the introduction of rules in 2005 which required non-EU nationals to obtain a certificate of approval from the Home Office before they could marry in a civil ceremony at a register office. The Church of England was exemp­ted from the clampdown.The size & cost of the EU's diplomatic army
Rebels are angry that the Foreign Secretary ordered Tory MEPs to support the formal creation of the European External Action Service. A spokesman for Mr Hague said: ‘We did not support the establishment of the EEAS but it, like the rest of the Lisbon Treaty, is now, regrettably, a fact."Cameron's referendum u-turn
At the Council of Ministers, Europe’s prime ministers and presidents backed “a limited treaty change” to deliver tighter fiscal discipline across the EU and a ­permanent bail-out fund for members of the eurozone. The change will create an “economic government” for Europe...Leaders are petrified that any change to the EU treaties would spark referendums in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. LGBTI jollies in the Hague
The real cost to European taxpayers of the event will be far higher than the quoted cost, as many of those attending are representing publicly-funded bodies and will claim travel and accommodation expenses. The event was staged by "ILGA-Europe" – the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.Brown due to give speech in the Commons
The Ministry of Defence is considering three options to maintain the two new carriers: give the work to Rosyth; offer it to the French; or close Rosyth, but retain its dry dock and bring in contractors to carry out the annual upgrades and six-yearly major maintenance work. A senior MoD source said: ‘You would have thought Gordon Brown would have wanted to stay away from the £38 billion black hole he created in the defence budget.’Housing benefit reform under renewed attack
The concerns come as the National Housing Federation, the body that represents housing associations in England, claims that around 200,000 people will be forced to live below a minimum income standard that has been endorsed by the prime minister.Harman apologises for ginger jibe
Delegates at Labour's Scottish conference could barely conceal their shock as Ms Harman, who is known for her strict adherence to politically correct views, turned her fire on the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the least correct way imaginable, mocking his red hair and comparing him to a squirrel.The children snatchers
Yet virtually none of this reaches the outside world because the system is hidden behind an almost impenetrable veil of secrecy. The nominal reason for this is to protect the identity and interests of the children, but secrecy has been so extended that its real aim is to protect the system itself and all those who do so well out of it.Liam Fox: an apologia
"...it has always been my view that defence must be a sovereign issue ... which is why this week will mark the beginning of a long-term commitment to closer defence and security links with France."Charles de Gaulle no longer seaworthy
The French aircraft carrier which is set to play a key role in defending Britain over the next decade has broken down. As President Nicolas Sarkozy prepares to use a London summit this week to announce that RAF jets will fly from the carrier Charles de Gaulle, his naval chiefs have told him that she is no longer seaworthy.American offer 'refused'
The White House has offered to send a U.S. aircraft carrier to be stationed off the British coast and boost security during the London Olympics, Ministry of Defence sources claimed last night. The suggestion is said to have been rejected by No10 because it would make the UK look ‘weak’. And last night Downing Street was silent on the claim.British troops facing investigation
The case involves multiple claims of ill-treatment contrary to human rights law, including hooding or blindfolding, allegations of being forced into prolonged stress positions in solitary confinement, and deprivation of sleep, water and food.Tory MP's outburst against Cameron
‘I don’t anticipate any early calls to Government. I’m a white, Christian, married bloke from the Home Counties so I probably don’t fit the description of what the leadership wants at the moment.’Merkel's solution to Germany's 'failed multiculturalism'
'Today, people with a migrant background are under- represented in the public sector, and that needs to change.'Anti-islamisation spreads in Europe
The right-wing populist Pro Cologne movement has campaigned against the [Cologne] mosque and moved a step closer to its goal last week after joining forces with Austria's far-right Freedom party (FPO).MPs & the BBC at loggerheads
A source said: ‘Cockerell promised it would be a serious look at the work we do. But despite the assurances, some of the committee said, “You can’t trust journalists. They will do us in at the first opportunity. It will all be about our expenses. They will stitch us up.”Dover steps up campaign to keep the port British
Since Gordon Brown's government decreed that the port should be sold off to the highest bidder, probably a foreign company, there has been a growing campaign not only to keep the port British but to pass it into the safekeeping of a local consortium.

Saturday, 30 October 2010

No, not the title of a song by Johnny Somebody-or-other about an Indian Maid and her lover who died in a river and neither is it based on Longfellow's poem* but it's what tptb are at the moment. Everything they're saying is bluster and hubris and they dare not change the Lisbon Treaty enough to trigger referenda, particularly in Britain.

They know they've been found out and they're worried the news will spread and resonate with more people. You only have to look at the comments in the online Guardian, Telegraph or Mail to see how angry people are. The comments range from 'string 'em up & hang, draw & quarter 'em' to 'we need a new money system', let's march on Parliament' or 'we need a real people's democracy'. This issue really does cross party political allegiances.

A 'tweak' to Lisbon = one giant leap for mankind. Merkel has agreement to add a line or two to the Lisbon Treaty in order to introduce a CRM and retrospectively accommodate the bail-outs to Greece, which, as it stands, are illegal. That's why it has to be re-written. However, Germany's full proposal to include sanctions against member states who don't adhere to EU economic guidelines via withdrawal of voting rights have been dismissed as being ott, ie it would mean re-writing Lisbon and trigger referenda throughout Europe.

Everything else: Galileo, surveillance projects, euro-zone going down the drain, inter-dependent military, the closure of British Embassies under the guise of cost-cutting and the growth of the EEAS and so on, I've already written about and I'm not given to telling people twice so I'm left with little to say this evening except to ask: what's going on with the BBC?"The idealism, the grand projects, the dreams of ever closer union have lost their appeal." After decades of being so pro-EU and funded by them, why now? Food for thought.

van Rompuy has a problem: Belgian daily Metro reports that 'European Council President Herman Van Rompuy' has presented his new book, called "Inside the World of Herman Van Rompuy". Commenting on his Presidency at the book presentation, he is quoted saying "I don't speak here as a politician but as a free man. I don't have any voters and I also prefer readers to voters". How wonderful that not only is he a 'free man' but he also has time to write a book - you have to laugh...don't you... ...

We don't need this NHS quango. The EC has already said that language capability must be determined by the interviewing board and has expressed 'surprise' at the number of NHS staff who can't speak English. Why is Westminster creating yet another quango?

Friday, 29 October 2010

The man must think we're all stupid. He's claiming "a spectacular success" in preventing the EU budget increase to 6% and limiting it to 2.9%.

First of all, an increase is an increase, not a cut or a freeze; secondly, all he has is a poxy piece of paper with 12 signatures on it; thirdly, any deal still has to be approved by the Commission & the Parliament.

Martin Schulz, the German leader of Europe's Social Democrat MEPs, the parliament’s second biggest bloc, said Mr Cameron’s promise was “nonsense.” He said: “The negotiations have barely begun - it is not for Mr Cameron to announce their conclusion. The figures he is talking about bear little relation to reality. He is setting himself up for a fall.”

UPDATE: Lee Rotherham, a man not to be sneezed at, has written an excellent article HERE detailing why Britain will shortly have no choice but to withdraw from the EU. It's thumbs down all round for Cameron.

Thursday, 28 October 2010

For the second time this week footage has been released of police manhandling a man and punching him in the head. He'd called for assistance after being stabbed but the police were no angels of mercy. It's true that the man is half-clothed and he does try to crawl away from them (alcohol involved?) but there's no audio so we don't know what was said beforehand. The man was arrested and charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer but released after eleven hours when the charges were dropped.

It's definitely ott - as well as being punched eight times in the head (where he was wounded) his head is forced to the ground, he's thumped in the back and he's sat upon, all while he's handcuffed behind his back. By the time the video ended I counted 11/12 officers milling around. Perhaps those involved (including the WPC) should consider signing up for EuroGendFor - they're looking for armed thugs to get to grips with 'citizens' on European streets.

MEPs have approved plans for EU Heritage Labels to mark sites with "a symbolic European value" that "have played a key role in the history and/or the building of EU". British taxpayers will contribute almost £640,000 to the scheme, which is designed "to strengthen European citizens' sense of belonging to the EU".

Commission officials have confirmed that the "heritage labels" will be used on war memorial sites.

"Places of remembrance clearly have their place in European history, not only as memorials to those who lost their lives but also as places where visitors can reflect on how and why Europe has successfully avoided major conflicts for more than 65 years," said an EU official. "They might also think, or learn, about the contribution of the EU to peace and stability."

Officials have also suggested that Sir Edward Heath, the former Conservative Prime Minister who took Britain into the European Community in 1971, could be commemorated along with Robert Schuman, the Frenchman who was one of the EU's "founding fathers".

"Imagine what a European Heritage Label would do for a site like Hadrian's Wall or for Ted Heath's house – and the many small businesses, from youth hostels to hotels, that would benefit from increased tourism in the areas," said an official.

On the subject of war memorials, Transport for London has decided to close some tube stations on Remembrance Sunday so, unless they backtrack or the Mayor intervenes, anyone travelling to the Cenotaph shouldn't rely on public transport to get there.

Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Conservative Home has some good quotes and links following on from Bill Cash's Urgent Question on EU economic governance this afternoon. Philip Davies, Con, Shipley, asked the question we'd all like answered while Mark Hoban, the Financial Secretary, was content to stay within the safe boundaries of government nu-speak:

Philip Davies: "Whenever the Minister defends this country from a power grab and a cash grab by the European Union, he will have the enthusiastic support of Members on these Benches. Some of us are rather nervous, however, because when the Conservatives were in opposition, they opposed the European External Action Service, yet they sang its praises when introducing it in the House not long ago. They also opposed giving more money to the European Union, yet they recently rubber-stamped an increase through this House that had been agreed by the previous Government. Does the Minister agree that his Government should be judged on what they do, and not on what they say?"

Another win for Cameron this week - it's too easy and Miliband is no match.

Harriet Baldwin, Con, West Worcestershire had the first question and gave Cameron a chance to blow the coalition trumpet about economic growth figures.

Miliband's questions all related to the plans for Housing Benefit & Welfare Reform but he only tied himself up in knots with a little help from Cameron, an old Labour internal memo and the email leaked to the Times this morning in which Miliband was advised on how to handle PMQs*. Miliband tried to change tack by drawing attention to unhappy Libdems - Hughes and Clegg in particular ('Glum and Glummer', 'back on the fags'). Once again it was very noisy: the Labour benches weren't comfortable at all and Speaker Bercow intervened: "Members must remain , if not serene, at any rate calm at all times".* "It's important to have a cheer-line that goes down well in the Chamber."
"You've got to have something that can be clipped easily by the broadcasters."
"It's important to get to your feet looking as though you're seizing on something new."

Topics raised:
A new Ocado store & 2,000 new jobs in Tamworth; anomalies raised by devolved budgets; winter deaths of elderly people; transfer of Yorkshire Forward funds to Local Enterprise Partnerships; the need of a Treaty change to take account of proposed EU economic sanctions; the EU budget; councils sharing services to drive down costs; the closure of RAF Lossiemouth and loss of jobs; implementation of Labour's intrusive monitoring & surveillance; the end of Child Trust Funds; future of BAE in Macclesfield; tax relief on video game development; Thames Estuary airport; Sri Lanka war crimes tribunal; planning for gypsy/traveller sites; cuts to school funding in Wolverhampton; FE colleges in Stroud; Conservative support for Labour spending plans; S&P's credit upgrade of UK; schools in Stoke-on-Trent; support for the private sector; bank taxation & child trust funds; housing benefits cuts & homeless children.

Followed by an Urgent Question from Bill Cash, Con, Stone & Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee: What negotiating position does the government intend to adopt regarding economic governance and the Stability & Growth Pact in the EU?

The government's response was given by Financial Secretary, Mark Hoban and he essentially said that the govt supported the aims of the EU regarding sanctions against euro-zone members and that the proposals would not affect Britain, that Britain would be exempted. (This despite van Rompuy stating yesterday that the changes would initially apply to euro-zone states and then be extended EU-wide).

In a series of interventions the former Business Secretary went out of his way to praise the coalition for its tough action in tackling the deficit and wide-ranging programme of reforms.He said the Government’s welfare and education reforms – both of which have been criticised by Labour – were moving in the right direction.

Steve Webb, the pensions minister, will today announce that following a review of the plans, which were first proposed under Gordon Brown, the Coalition is going ahead with "auto-enrolment" from 2012.

As the Parties cuddle up in the centre ground the electorate who want something different are left with little choice except to look to UKIP/BNP, both of which have been labelled extremists, nutters and fruitcakes - oh! and racist, of course.

"It needs ratification because it is prerogative of a national state to set its own taxes. No taxation without representation – it must be ratified. This is a sacred prerogative of national parliaments."

Bill Cash, Conservative chairman of the powerful [sic] House of Commons scrutiny committee, insisted that the question of EU taxation would be examined by MPs in terms of the referendum pledge.

"EU taxation proposals are invasive of British democracy's constitutional position. We will be closely examining these matters in the light of the referendum requirement," he said.

Is it too much to hope that Cameron is just picking his ground?* He may have done a deal and wriggled out of holding a referendum on a new treaty about economic sanctions but he won't be able to escape this one. There MUST be a referendum on proposals for direct taxation.

If I hear one more dozy person snigger and say, "Only in America", I'll thcweam and thcweam.

"A van that can drive down the street and look through people's clothes, look into vehicles and even peer into your home? I think that's an invasion of privacy and not what we should be doing..."

Big Brother Watch is, therefore, concerned to hear about the development of the 'Z Backscatter Van', a seemingly-innocuous commercial vehicle able to detect "contraband like explosives, drugs or people in hiding". It also has the ability to "see through clothing and into some buildings". While use of this technology in the UK may for the time being be restricted to border patrols, it may only be a matter of time until it makes its way into your own High Street.

Are there any takers that these vans will be used for Olympics 2012? Are there any takers that they'll prove to be so 'incredibly effective' in the 'war on terror' that their use will be rolled out into other areas? Technology is great, but not when it's in the wrong hands and this coalition government is proving to be as feckless and intrusive as the last.

One of the great things about blogging from abroad has been having a broad overview of what's going on and tying the ends together to get at the bigger picture, particularly as it affects Britain. One of the things to emerge is that Britain isn't a victim country in all this; it's one of the prime movers and shakers. It will be interesting, for me at least, to see if/how the perspective of the blog changes once I'm back on home turf.

Lately, all my time has been taken up in organising the move so I haven't had as much time to devote to the blog as it needs or I'd like - hence the number of mini-round-ups has grown - and today is no exception.

Despite a pledge to hold a referendum on any new treaty, the deal could be pushed through next year without a public vote.Mr Cameron has pledged a ‘referendum lock’ which would require ministers to hold a referendum on any new EU treaty which affects Britain. But Government sources say proposed treaty changes would not transfer powers from Britain to the EU, so no poll is needed.

In a statement, Sims said: "I believe that the support and the confidence of local communities in West Midlands police is the most important thing for us in the fight against crime and terrorism."We can fight crime and the threat posed by terrorism far more effectively by working hand in hand with local people, rather than alienating them through a technological solution which does not have broad community support."

Fantastic spoof from Iowahawk. It's long but worth it. (I bet it won't take you as long to read as it took me to re-format for Blogger though!)

WELCOME TO ADVENTURE! WOULD YOU LIKE INSTRUCTIONS?
> YES

YOU ARE SOMEWHERE IN BELTWAY FOREST, WHERE SOME HAVE FOUND TREASURES OF GOLD ALTHOUGH SOME HAVE ENTERED AND NEVER BEEN SEEN AGAIN. MAGIC IS SAID TO WORK IN THE FOREST. I WILL BE YOUR EYES AND HANDS. DIRECT ME WITH SIMPLE COMMANDS.
YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. THERE IS SNOW OUTSIDE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. ON DESK THERE IS A BUST OF CHURCHILL.
YOU HAVE A CONGRESS.
YOU HAVE A SENATE.
YOU HAVE A MEDIA.
YOU HAVE A TELEPROMPTER.
YOU HAVE A MILITARY.
YOU HAVE A BIG JET.
YOU HAVE $3 TRILLION OF GOLD.
YOU HAVE 82% APPROVAL HEALTH.
THERE IS 7.2% UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST.
YOU HAVE A RACE CARD.
YOU HAVE INAUGURAL PARTY LEFTOVERS.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>EAT LEFTOVERS
>RETURN BUST

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. ON DESK THERE IS NO BUST OF CHURCHILL. THERE ARE NO MORE LEFTOVERS. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>GIVE SPEECH

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. YOU ARE BORED. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>GIVE RESET BUTTON TO RUSSIA, BUY CAR COMPANIES
HOW MANY CAR COMPANIES?
>2
THIS WILL COST $85 BILLION OF GOLD. YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU HAVE 2 CAR COMPANIES. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THEM?
>GIVE TO UNIONS

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOUR APPROVAL HEALTH IS 67%. UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST IS 8.1% WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>STIMULATE ECONOMY
HOW?
>$1 TRILLION TARP
YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH GOLD FOR THAT. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>BORROW GOLD
FROM?
>CHINA
WHO DO YOU WANT GOLD TO GO TO?
>BANKING AND INSURANCE FRIENDS

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOUR APPROVAL HEALTH IS 61%. UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST IS 8.3% THE FOREST PEASANTS ARE COMPLAINING. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>DEMONIZE BANKS, DEMONIZE INSURANCE, BLAME BUSH

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOUR APPROVAL HEALTH IS 61%. UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST IS 8.5% WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>GIVE SPEECH
CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR SPEECH HAS WON NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>FLY JET
WHERE?
>EUROPE

YOU ARE IN A PALACE. YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF QUEEN. WHAT DO WANT TO DO?
>GIVE QUEEN IPOD
YOU ARE IN OSLO. YOU ARE IN TUXEDO. WHAT DO WANT TO DO?
>ACCEPT PEACE PRIZE
YOU ARE IN COPENHAGEN. YOU ARE IN FRONT OF COMMITTEE.
>REQUEST OLYMPICS
YOU ARE ON BIG JET. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO?
>MIDEAST
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO THERE?
>APOLOGY SPEECH
YOU ARE IN A PALACE. YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF FAT KING. HE SMELLS BAD. HE IS WEARING BED SHEET. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>BOW
YOU ARE ON BIG JET. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO?
>BELTWAY

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. ON THE DESK IS A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. YOUR APPROVAL HEALTH IS 58%. UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST IS 8.6% WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>STIMULATE ECONOMY
HOW?
>$1 TRILLION RECOVERY ACT
I'M SORRY, YOU DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH GOLD FOR THAT. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>BORROW FROM CHINA
I'M SORRY, CHINA DOES NOT WANT TO LEND YOU GOLD. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>PRINT GOLD
WHERE DO YOU WANT GOLD TO GO TO?
>CONSTRUCTION SIGNS, WHATEVER
DO YOU WANT CONGRESS TO HELP?
>Y

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. YOUR APPROVAL HEALTH IS 55%. YOUR CONGRESS HAS 31% HEALTH. UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST IS 8.9% YOUR FRIEND AT HARVARD IS ARRESTED BY POLICEMAN. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>CALL POLICEMAN STUPID, PLAY RACE CARD
I'M SORRY, THAT DID NOT WORK. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>BEER, SUMMIT, BLAME BUSH

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. ON THE DESK IS A TELEPHONE AND A TV. THE TELEPHONE RINGS. IT IS COPENHAGEN. YOU DO NOT GET THE OLYMPICS FOR CHICAGO. A PEASANT ON TV FROM CHICAGO CALLS FOR TEA PARTY REVOLT. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>NATIONALIZE HEALTHCARE
I'M SORRY, THIS NAME WILL NOT WORK. DO YOU WANT TO CALL IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
>REFORM HEALTHCARE
YOU WILL NEED A CONGRESS AND SENATE TO "REFORM HEALTHCARE" IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
>TELL CONGRESS TO REFORM HEALTHCARE

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE WITH GENERALS. AFGHANISTAN IS GOING BAD. IRAN IS BUILDING NUCLEAR BOMBS. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>PLAY GOLF

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. ON THE TV ARE TOWN HALLS. AT THE TOWN HALLS ARE PEASANTS. THEY ARE YELLING AT YOUR CONGRESS. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>ATTACK PEASANTS
WITH WHAT?
>MEDIA
WHAT WEAPON?
>RACE CARD
THE PEASANTS ARE NOW ANGRIER. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>ATTACK PEASANTS
WITH WHAT?
>UNIONS
WHAT WEAPON?
>FISTS, NIGHTSTICKS

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. ON THE TV ARE YOUR CZARS. YOUR CZARS ARE PRAISING COMMUNISM. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>PLAY RACE CARD, VOICE SUPPORT FOR CZARS
I'M SORRY, THIS DOES NOT WORK. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>THROW CZARS UNDER BUS
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE A SUPREME COURT VACANCY. WHO DO YOU WANT TO APPOINT?
>WISE LATINA
YOU SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS. DO YOU WANT TO SET PRIORITIES?
>Y
ENTER TOP PRIORITIES SEPARATED BY COMMAS.
>HEALTH CARE, CHILDHOOD OBESITY, ECONOMY, GAS MILEAGE, GITMO, JOBS, CONSTRUCTION SIGNS, LIGHT RAIL, MUSLIM SELF ESTEEM, GOLF HANDICAP, WAR
DO YOU NEED A CIGARETTE BREAK?
>Y
ADVENTURE WILL RESUME WHEN YOU PRESS F12
>[F12]

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF CONGRESS. ON THE DESK IS DRAFT HEALTH CARE BILL. DO YOU WANT TO READ?
>N
YOU CANNOT SIGN HEALTH CARE BILL UNTIL IT PASSES THROUGH CONGRESS RULES. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>CHANGE RULES, RAM THROUGH
CONGRESS SAYS THEY ARE AFRAID OF PEASANTS.
>TELL CONGRESS TO ATTACK PEASANTS
HOW?
>RACE CARD, CHOKE HOLDS

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. YOUR APPROVAL HEALTH IS 49%. HEALTH CARE BILL IS STALLED. YOUR CONGRESS HAS 16% HEALTH. UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST IS 9.5%. YOUR TEAM IS SHOPPING THEIR RESUMES. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>ADD PAGES TO HEALTH CARE BILL
HOW MANY?
>1826
DO YOU WANT TO READ NEW HEALTH CARE BILL?
>N
HEALTH CARE BILL NOW COST $1 TRILLION. HOW WILL YOU PAY?
>PRETEND IT COSTS $0
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU NOW HAVE HEALTH CARE BILL. DO YOU WISH TO SIGN?
>Y
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH HEALTH CARE BILL?
>GIVE TO PEASANTS AS XMAS GIFT

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. YOUR APPROVAL HEALTH IS 46%. YOU HAVE LOST 3 CONGRESSMEN TO PEASANTS IN SPECIAL ELECTION REVOLT. YOUR CONGRESS HAS 11% HEALTH. UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST IS 10.0%. WAR IS GOING BAD. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>PLAY GOLF, RENAME WAR
GIVE NEW NAME TO WAR.
>OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATION

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. THE GOVERNOR IN ARIZONA FOREST IS THREATENING TO ENFORCE YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWS. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>ATTACK ARIZONA
HOW?
>RACE CARD, HOLDER
HOLDER IS BUSY LOOKING FOR NEW YORK COURT FOR TRIAL FOR TERRORISTS. I MEAN UNDOCUMENTED GUEST DISSENTER. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>PLAY GOLF

YOU ARE ON A GOLF GREEN. YOU ARE STANDING NEXT TO A GOLF CART. ON THE GOLF CART IS A SUITCASE WITH A RED PHONE. THE PHONE RINGS. IT IS CONGRESS. THEY ARE EVEN MORE SCARED OF PEASANTS, WHO ARE EVEN MORE PISSED OFF. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>CALM CONGRESS
HOW?
>TELL TO WORK ON CAP AND TRADE
YOU SEEMS TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS. WOULD YOU LIKE HELP?
>Y
ENTER YOUR HELPERS SEPARATED BY COMMAS.
>MSNBC, NYT, ACORN, SEIU, MOVE ON, NETROOTS, SOROS
ARE YOU SURE?
>Y
SERIOUSLY, ARE YOU SURE?
>Y
I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL YOU HOW TO PLAY THE ADVENTURE, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT REALLY QUALIFIES AS "HELP." ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE?
>Y
OKAY, YOU'RE THE BOSS. PLEASE ENTER THE NUMBER OF PUFF PIECES YOU WANT.
>180
PLEASE ENTER THE NUMBER OF ATTACK PIECES YOU WANT.
>5276
ATTACK PIECES HAVE BACKFIRED. MEDIA IS AT 0% HEALTH. ACORN IS AT 0% HEALTH. CONGRESS IS AT 7% HEALTH. THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEASANTS OUT THERE THAN YOU THOUGHT. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>BLAME BUSH
THAT DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE.
>BLAME BANKS
THAT DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE.
>BLAME PALIN
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY A DISTRACTION?
>Y
I'M SORRY, THE PEASANTS ARE NOT EASILY DISTRACTED.

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU ARE BEHIND A DESK. YOU HAVE LOST RAHM. PEASANTS ARE LOSING THEIR HEALTH CARE. PEASANTS ARE MARCHING ON THE BELTWAY. THERE IS 9.6% UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE FOREST. YOUR APPROVAL HEALTH IS 42%. YOUR CONGRESS HAS 1.3% HEALTH. YOUR CONGRESS WILL NOT RETURN YOUR CALLS. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>TURN LEFT
EXCUSE ME?
>TURN LEFT
WHOA. FOR A MINUTE THERE I THOUGHT YOU TYPED 'TURN LEFT'.
>I DID! TURN LEFT
UMM, ANY PARTICULAR REASON?
>ENERGIZE BASE
BY "BASE", DO YOU MEAN THAT REPULSIVE COLLECTION OF SNIDE FUCKWIT URBAN HIPSTER TWATS?
>Y
HOW?
>CAR DITCH SLURPEE JOKE
BASE ENERGY FAIL. STIMULUS FAIL. HEALTH CARE FAIL. TARP FAIL.

YOU ARE IN AN OVAL OFFICE. YOU HAVE 41% APPROVAL HEALTH. YOU HAVE NO GOLD LEFT. YOU HAVE NO CONGRESS LEFT. YOU HAVE NO MEDIA LEFT. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>BLAME BUSH
I'M SORRY, THAT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.
>PLAY RACE CARD
I'M SORRY, THAT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.
>PLAY GOLF
GOLF COURSE IS CLOSED.
>TURN LEFT
DUDE.
>FAKE TURN RIGHT
ADVENTURER PLEASE, YOU'RE JUST EMBARRASSING YOURSELF.
>^C
>^C
>^C
I'M SORRY, THERE IS NO ESCAPE KEY. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>

Iraq: The War LogsThe 'social cleansing' of London
Representatives of London boroughs told a meeting of MPs last week that councils have already block-booked bed and breakfasts and other private accommodation outside the capital – from Hastings, on the south coast, to Reading to the west and Luton to the north – to house those who will be priced out of the London market.Cameron bans Warsi from Global Peace & Unity event
The London-based conference is aimed at improving community relations, yet critics have pointed out that a number of speakers who are due to appear have justified suicide attacks and promoted al-Qaida, homophobia and terrorism.Privatising English woodland
Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, will give the go-ahead to sell half of the 1.85m woodland acres run by the Forestry Commission ... Laws dating back to Magna Carta are likely to be rewritten to allow the woodland sale.
Caroline.Spelman@defra.gsi.gov.uk Three new quangos for the EU
Hundreds of staff are currently being recruited for three new bodies being set up to oversee banking and financial institutions in the wake of the credit crunch, and their creation has raised fears in the City of London of damaging new regulation.£204m for space project and £670m subsidy of pro-European documentaries
Nigel Farage, frontrunner to lead the UK Independence Party, last night described the draft budget as proof that Brussels had lost touch with reality. He said: “The idea of sending eurocrats into orbit has its charms but £23million extra for space research is bizarre.New poll: Labour 2 points ahead
The poll shows support for Labour at 37%, with the Tories at 35% and Lib Dems at a lowly ten. It puts Mr Miliband ahead of Mr Cameron for the first time since the lead he enjoyed in the afterglow of his Labour leadership victory last month. The return of David Laws
"David Cameron wants him back, Nick Clegg wants him back and I am certain David himself would like to return. Everything is in place but they need to get the inquiry out of the way first."Clegg: the permanent Deputy Prime Minister
It is the closest any senior member of the Government has come to saying the two parties could be linked permanently – or merge. Mr Maude is one of Mr ­Cameron’s closest advisers. His comments will fuel suspicion among Right-wing Conservatives that the Prime Minister sees the Coalition as part of a long-term strategy, not a short-term fix after the Election result.1/3rd immigrant 'brain surgeons' in unskilled jobs
The full research, based on a sample of 1,184 tier one immigrants out of more than 18,000 given visas in 2009 is to be published this week by the UK Border Agency. It was the first detailed look at how Labour's policies had operated.

One from last Thursday:Hardliners call for deaths of Surrey Muslims
Islamic extremists have started openly calling for the destruction of a controversial Muslim sect in a major escalation of sectarian conflict within British Islam, an investigation by The Independent has revealed.

Saturday, 23 October 2010

We have a country to defend, over and above politicians who negotiate our land away above our heads and votes.

This was my first post: "A multitude of causes unknown to former times are now acting with a combined force to blunt the discriminating powers of the mind, and unfitting it for all voluntary exertion to reduce it to a state of almost savage torpor." Wordsworth.

This was my second:

At the corner of Wood Street, when daylight appears,
Hangs a Thrush that sings loud, it has sung for three years:
Poor Susan has passed by the spot, and has heard
In the silence of morning the song of the bird.

'Tis a note of enchantment; what ails her? She sees
A mountain ascending, a vision of trees;
Bright volumes of vapour through Lothbury glide,
And a river flows on through the vale of Cheapside.

Green pastures she views in the midst of the dale
Down which she so often has tripped with her pail;
And a single small cottage, a nest like a dove's,
The one only dwelling on earth that she loves.

She looks, and her heart is in heaven: but they fade,
The mist and the river, the hill and the shade;
The stream will not flow, and the hill will not rise,
And the colours have all passed away from her eyes!
Wordsworth

I've felt for a long time that I've come full circle. Beyond reporting about the EU's latest adventure I see nothing but boots and feet. My feet and tptb's boots. It's down to us to challenge the daily intrusions and each of us must speak up for what we believe in.

You wouldn't think I was a Buddhist would you? Or, perhaps, given the state of Tibet, you would.

We should pull out because this sort of thing isn't going to go away even when we've left Afghanistan. We're either at war or we are not - there can be no grey areas. Iraq and Afghanistan have always been grey areas thanks to Blair & Campbell's involvement in the dossier.

"There is an obligation to investigate whenever there are credible allegations torture has happened – and these allegations are more than credible – and then it is up to the courts," he [Manfred Nowak, the UN's special rapporteur on torture] said.
"It is then up to the courts on the one hand to bring the perpetrators to justice and also on the other hand to provide the victims with adequate reparation for the harm they have suffered."

If tptb aren't prepared to support the Armed Forces they send into the line of fire then those Forces should be withdrawn. The UN can't have it both ways; are we at war or are we not? Are we living in 'the most dangerous times', or are we not? Hague is playing semantics when he talks about 'security'. They're shifting the goalposts once again.

It's time governments stopped feeding us pap via the media and let the Forces get on with their job without having to look over their shoulders to count the human rights lawyers. Either do it, or get out.

I have a feeling that the new EU/UK budget for 'cyber-terrorism' is not unconnected with all of this. First of all, it's in response to a new EU directive which I posted about last week and, secondly, how convenient it is that when the majority finally begin to think that 'terrorism' is just an excuse for outrageous law-making and access to mineral deposits, they should come up with something else. The internet is in its sights.

There has to be a better way of government - one that doesn't take the people and our Armed Forces for stupid patsies.

"Two students assistants worked tirelessly the days following the attacks in London. They flew over from the Netherlands and distributed hundreds of questionnaires in parks and on streets near the sights where the deplorable bombings had taken place. Over four hundred Londoners participated in the study, and thus shared their feelings, thoughts, and opinions on the events that had unfolded. The participants were asked all sorts of questions, relating to their current emotional and psychological well-being, but also to their attitudes towards counterterrorism measures, to Tony Blair as leader of the country, to the nation and the fact that the city was just chosen to organize the 2012 Olympics, and to Britain as a pluralistic, multicultural society.

We first created a subset of those who reported to feel particularly disturbed by the attacks and those who experienced the events with relative equanimity. We then compared the scores of those high in psychological distress and those low in psychological distress on a number of items. Now, this is not the place to elaborate on the methodological and statistical intricacies of the study but several findings are certainly worthy of sharing."

Have you ever felt like a lab-rat?

Dont forget this (resurrecting Labour's surveillance laws) or this, the website of Frances Guy who is still the British Ambassador to Lebanon despite paying tribute to Hizbollah in July of this year.

Geert Wilders has won his second appeal against the judges after his counsel brought their impartiality into question and they have been dismissed.

His trial took a new twist on Friday after allegations emerged that a judge may have tried to pressure one of the defence witnesses... De Pers newspaper, disclosed that the witness, Hans Jansen, a retired professor of Arabic studies, had attended a dinner in the company of an Amsterdam appeal court judge... During "ill-manned and unprofessional" exchanges, Judge Schalken tried to "convince me of the correctness of his decision to take Wilders to court,"

The whole thing is nothing but a corrupt show trial.

Here's Fitna, again, this time courtesy of Daily Motion, the only video channel that seems not to have caved in to threats, unlike YouTube and LiveLeaks:

Friday, 22 October 2010

With just over 50% of a 25% turnout, Ken Livingstone-backed Lutfur Rahman has been elected as the Mayor of Tower Hamlets on an Independent ticket thus gaining control over a £1bn council budget.

The politics of Tower Hamlets is corrupt, mired as it is in allegations of vote-rigging, intimidation, libel and close links with extremist groups such as the IFE ("... transforming the “very infrastructure of society, its institutions, its culture, its political order and its creed… from ignorance to Islam.”)

"After he secured the leadership with the help of the IFE, millions of pounds were channelled to front organisations of the IFE, a man with close links to the IFE was appointed as assistant chief executive of the council despite being unqualified for the position and the secular, white chief executive was forced out. Various efforts were made to “Islamicise” the borough. Extremist literature was stocked in Tower Hamlets’ public libraries ..."It was the execution of a careful and sophisticated plan by a small, well-financed and highly-organised cabal to seize control of a London borough. It deployed not just volunteers from the IFE and other bodies but also people paid to campaign by Lutfur’s business backers. Someone also paid for tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of copies of the most pernicious literature ever seen in a British election, in which Mr Abbas was falsely smeared as a wife-beater, a bankrupt, a racist and and an insulter of Islam..."

At the weekend, Rushanara Ali (the Labour MP for Bethnal Green & Bow who campaigned for the Labour candidate) said: "The stakes are so high. We do not want the people of Tower Hamlets, and especially the Bangladeshi community which I am so proud to be a part of, to be known to this country for the wrong reasons."

The Labour chickens are beginning to come home to roost and this one will be followed by many more.

I hope everyone knows who their MEP is because that's where the action has been for a long time now (it's why our own Westminster government is, on the whole, so damned useless) and there's no sign of it slowing down as Brussels steadily accrues more powers to itself and votes for more and more taxpayers' cash.

The latest news is that the EC has arbitrarily given MEPs extra powers over and above what their countries have conferred. Through something called an 'inter-institutional agreement' all MEPs have been given more rights over international negotiations and greater access to classified documents. This gives them more rights than our own Westminster MPs - you know the ones I mean: they're the ones who knock on your door and smile once every four or five years and are less familiar to you than the local Jehovah's Witnesses.

The former sovereign nations that now comprise the territories/institutions of the EU are slightly miffed by this new development which apparently came out of the blue. They're threatening to take the EC to court - that would be the European Court of Justice, the EU's dogsbody. Good luck with that.

Portuguese centre-right MEP Paulo Rangel, in charge of drafting the parliament's position on the agreement last week said he was confident the legal threat would not materialise."Every institution interprets in its own way their new powers given by the Lisbon Treaty and tries to maximise their positions. I don't think this means there is a conflict within the institutions," he said.

While we're in Brussels, let's see how the budget negotiations are getting on:

The 2011 EU budget proposed by MEPs would include €142.65 billion in commitments and €130.14 billion in payments. The negotiations are the first to take place under the new Lisbon Treaty format, handing parliament a greater say and allowing for only one reading.

Is there anyone, anywhere (apart from you and me) who isn't on this gravy train? I looked at the secretarial posts available and a bilingual PA can earn a minimum of 3,000 euros per month plus the usual perks - oh, to be 21 again. Sod the FCO. Who, in their right mind, would turn down a job with these people? No wonder the FCO is so pro-EU these days - they're all waiting in the first carriage of the EuroStar to Brussels.

If Merkel/Sarkozy insist on transferring powers to Hague's "new areas" then Ireland may get a third referendum. I think we're looking at more sleight of hand here, more re-wording rather than another treaty. The risk of referenda is too great for tptb.

Tsk, tsk! Naughty Greece The UN has said that Greece's portal for immigrants into the EU is "inhuman, degrading, appalling, dysfunctional". I suppose that puts our own into perspective.

Deep joy: the European External Action Service aka Diplomatic Service, is to be launched on the anniversary of the Lisbon Treaty. I hope you've washed your flags and will have a clean one ready (I take it you do rotate and keep one constantly fluttering outside your home/Town Hall?)

All well and good except the lying, deceitful, manipulative b@st@rds already had fifty-four embassies up and running in the first six weeks of this year. Goodness knows how many have been added since then.

Everything was in place, ready for the Lisbon signing - it was already agreed and they had ample time to work behind the scenes. That's what got me/this blog going in the first place: the lies and manipulation behind the scenes of the EU. I hate lies, especially when the liars smile and say, "Trust us."

"I am not motivated by nostalgia saying this, I'm just a militant today addressing Germany, which is celebrating its reunification, which all member countries are celebrating. Are the values which we inherited from the fathers of Europe still present, still dominant? The legacy which was transmitted to us is mostly about 'why do we want to be together?' more than treaties and inter-institutional arrangements."

Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Main Points:Reform: in every area where we make savings, we must leave no stone unturned in our search for waste & we must deliver changes necessary to make our services fit for the modern age.Fairness: all in this together & all must make a contribution; means creating a welfare system that helps the vulnerable, supports people into work & is affordable for working people who pay for it from their taxes. Broadest shoulders will pay the most and that includes our banks.Growth: when money is short we should ruthlessly prioritise those areas of public spending most likely to support economic growth, ie investments in transport, green energy infrastructure, science and "the skills and education of our citizens".

Note to Osborne: I AM NOT YOUR CITIZEN. I AM NOT YOUR ANYTHING. I DO NOT BELONG TO THE STATE.

And that's that as far as I'm concerned. There was mention of a Sovereign Support Grant replacing the Civil List (goodbye to Britain's Constitutional Monarchy, hello cycling continentals).

I hold politics to be in contempt of the people and I think I'd better go - I feel another 'FOAD' moment coming on. Videos to follow later, possibly.

UPDATE: Since Swiss Bob of the Daily Politics left the scene no-one has been able to replace him - there are no videos. Sorry.

The graphic is from the Daily Mail. It still grieves me that England has no representation in the Westminster Parliament. I also wonder why the Cabinet Office, fronted by Clegg, appears to have done so well out of the CSR.

They're off! Peter Bone had the first question and it was surprising - planted but still with the capacity to be controversial: "During this Parliament our contributions to the European Union will increase by £17.5bn so yesterday's cuts to the defence budget will not go to reduce the deficit but to subsidise our European partners. This is obscene. What would the Prime Minister like to say to the European Union?"

Cameron: "First of all, the point is that the previous government gave away £8m of rebate and got nothing in return." He then read from a prepared script: "I am absolutely clear we will not accept any increases in the EU budget in the next 7yr financial perspective. We've called for a cash freeze in the size of the EU budget for 2011 and we're working very hard to make this case across Europe. Just yesterday I spoke to the new Dutch Prime Minister as he is another ally in trying to make sure that as we make difficult decisions at home we do not spend extra money on the EU budget."

Miliband is not doing well: he struggles to make himself heard; frequently loses his place in his script and is too often caught with his trousers down when it comes to facts. He's nervous, tries to be clever but doesn't pull it off - he needs more practice; Cameron has had many years to perfect his acting role. It isn't enough for Miliband to throw past quotes into the air and hope one hits home - after 13yrs of Blair/Brown Cameron has more than enough fuel to rebut them.

Cameron's claws were out and he made mincemeat of Miliband but it has to be said that he was rather spiteful. Everyone in the Chamber seemed to find it amusing but I thought it sad - I always find PMQs dispiriting and a sorry indictment of the way we're governed with plenty of bluster and hot air; sound and fury signifying nothing except soundbites for the evening news. However, Miliband will have to grow several inches taller if he wants to lead an opposition party. I'll find a video for an update later.

This PMQs was only notable for the number of questions about the EU; there were three in all so it looks possible that, thanks to the GE, anti-EU Conservative backbenchers are growing more teeth after all.

Topics:
Efficiency & transparency in local govt; investment in jobs; Save the Children Fund & the release of the aid worker in Somalia; global crack-down on 'tax-dodging'; Ilkeston football club; too few immigrants to Glenrothes; why is FPTP fairer than AV; funding for N.Ireland Assembly; the financial advice of Mao Tse Tsung; a Human Rights Act for N.Ireland; the expansion of EU bureacracy; off-shore tax havens; unacceptable rubber-stamping of the budget for the EU; loss of building jobs; the economy (and a dig at Shad.Chancellor, Alan Johnson); will the private sector thrive in the face of public sector job cuts; protecting the NHS; social housing reform; secondary breast cancer awareness; the repatriation of the body of Gary Dunn; graduate tax; Ealing Hospital; sentencing for young offenders; BA strikers.

A collection of news articles that I bookmarked recently but haven't had time to write up so here they are, for the record and so we don't forget:

MPs' expenses: key files missing. Auditors fail to pass House of Commons annual accounts."...accountants cannot verify that they provide a “true, complete and fair” picture of the use of taxpayers’ money. Commons officials are concerned over the public fallout from their failure to properly account for millions of pounds of public money at a time of government cutbacks."Another 8 MPs in expenses 'storm'Former Europe minister Denis MacShane is reported to have claimed for eight laptop computers in three years and paid £8,000 of taxpayers’ money to a company controlled by his brother. Government whip Bill Wiggin ordered to apologise to MPs and repay more than £4,000, former defence minister Ivor Caplin owes £17,865, Labour peer Baroness Adams owes £4,110, and ex-MPs Diana Organ and Lorna Fitzsimons owe £12,803 and £500 respectively. Former MPs John Lyons and Helen Clark owe a further £10,894 and £2,808 respectively but have agreed repayment plans.Merkel & Sarkozy: We need a new EU treaty Merkel now has Sarkozy on-side. The current treaty doesn't allow EU states to bail out each other so in effect the bail-out of Greece was illegal according to EU rules. Retrospective changes have to be made to Lisbon. Cameron is running scared; how will he wriggle out of this one?Britain has fought hard since March this year to block changes to the Lisbon Treaty by warning Germany and France that it would open the EU as a divisive political issue across Europe and that it could trigger a British referendum, almost certainly leading to a No vote.A good write-up about Britain's predicament from Bruno WaterfieldEC warned: "hands off British rebate" Good! Perhaps the published plans for direct taxation will finally hammer the message home to voters.An 'options paper' to be unveiled by the Commission sets out alternatives for a direct tax on EU citizens for the first time to help fund the £108billion-a-year cost of running euro policies. It includes diverting a share of national taxes such as carbon or aviation tax or VAT directly to Brussels - an idea hatched by the commission months ago to top up EU coffers.Ken Livingstone faces calls for expulsion from Labour Party"Livingstone... caused consternation yesterday when he joined the campaign trail with Lutfur Rahman, an independent standing against Labour's Helal Abbas in the election to become executive mayor of Tower Hamlets council...Flanked by Rahman and his supporters, Livingstone said on Monday that the party had made "a big mistake" in removing him as its candidate."Theresa May urged to sack top adviser in row over ban on Muslim clericMay banned Dr Naik from entering the UK for a lecture tour in June, saying his presence “would not be conducive to the public good”. However, hours after the ban was announced [Charles] Farr, director of the Office of Security and Counter Terrorism, told one of Dr Naik’s supporters in an email that he would try to help Dr Naik's case to enter the UK, according to emails seen by The Daily Telegraph.Francis Maude & Julia Middleton"True Conservatives will be shocked to learn that Maude and Cameron’s Cabinet Office are engaged in a secretive dialogue with Middleton to achieve a “Culture Change’ in the Top 200 civil servants using the “Common Purpose model.” An email obtained by the UK Column shows Common Purpose attempting to use her personal contact with Maude in the Cabinet Office to secure ‘training’ contracts. Dated 18 May 2010 the email states:“Dear Francis, I think we - and quite a few Common Purpose alumni from the civil service - could help with the culture change you need to bring about. Could I and David Bell (Chair of Common Purpose trustees) come and see you for five minutes? Love Julia”The CSR: £83bn or £49bn?New Channel Tunnel route: Frankfurt, Brussels, LondonRecord 2.4m Eastern European workers return to BritainFrance urges expats to leave YemenFour 'Islamists' convicted of plot to blow up New York synagoguesObama "will not visit Golden Temple over Muslim photo fears"

From today's press:Defence cuts leave Britain reliant on others. The cuts "provoked fury among senior Royal Navy and RAF figures". The SDSR all but ruled out the possibility of Britain ever mounting a major independent operation again, saying that future wars will be fought alongside allies like the US and France.Government resurrects Labour's plan to log all our communications. "Hugely controversial ‘Big Brother’ plans to store details of every internet click, email and telephone call that we make are being revived by the Coalition, it emerged last night. Police, security services and other public bodies would be able to find out which websites a person had visited, and when, where and to whom a text or call was made."

Riots engulf France: clashes in 300 towns and cities "[Sarkozy] and his wife Carla Bruni spent £660 a day on fresh flowers last year – paid by the taxpayer. They also used public money to settle a £3,000 fine for late payment of electricity and gas bills. Although Mr Sarkozy recently claimed he would pay back around £5,000 worth of living costs, including bills for toothpaste and dry cleaning, this economy was followed by news that he and his wife had bought a £140million Airbus A340 jet for official presidential business...David Cameron, meanwhile – preparing for the announcement of swingeing cuts today – must be hoping this outpouring of violent protest does not spread across the Channel.

Hammy died; Sammy passed away from malnutrition; Suki was resurrected. Lucky ran away. Here's Lucky's brother, Chucky:"What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? Click my wheel to feed me.

"Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.You'd better watch out!There may be dogs aboutI looked over Jordan, and I've seenThings are not what they seem.

That's what you get for pretending the danger's not real.Meek and obedient you follow the leaderDown well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.What a surprise!A look of terminal shock in your eyes.Now things are really what they seem.No, this is not a bad dream.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not wantHe makes me down to lieThrough pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.With bright knives He releaseth my soul.He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.He converteth me to lamb cutlets,For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.When cometh the day we lowly ones,Through quiet reflection, and great dedicationMaster the art of Judo,Lo, we shall rise up,And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water.

Bleating and babbling we fell on his neck with a scream.Wave upon wave of demented avengersMarch cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Have you heard the news?The dogs are dead!You better stay homeAnd do as you're told.Get out of the road if you want to grow old."

Reform and revolutionary change that is undertaken without the explicit consent of the people, can only be maintained through force and repression.